Legacy Admissions
The Alumni
Council on Admissions (ACA) is a resource to alumni families who have children or grandchildren applying to one of Penn's four undergraduate schools.
What is a "Legacy"?
The children and grandchildren of Penn alumni are considered legacies in the Undergraduate Admissions process. It doesn't matter whether the parent or grandparent received their undergraduate or graduate degree from Penn — we include anyone with any degree from Penn.
Resources for Legacies
Legacy
Advising Sessions are an informal, group question and answer
session available to alumni families interested in discussing selective
admissions and Penn. These advising sessions give families a chance to
ask any and all questions they have about the admissions process, selective
admissions, or about Penn.
ACA staff are also accessible by phone
and email or by appointment.
Linking Legacies
Linking Legacies is a student-led buddy program that connects prospective legacy students with current Penn legacy students via email. Current Penn students are able to answer questions and offer a personal account of their own Penn experiences.
Prospectives Legacies- click here to learn more! Current Penn Students- click here to join!
Frequently Asked Questions about Being a Penn Legacy
[Click link to expand/collapse answer.]
1. What is the application process for legacies?
ANSWER: The process is the same for all applicants, regardless of legacy status.
2. How will the Admissions Committee know that I am a legacy?
ANSWER: There is a space for legacies to note their family ties to Penn within the Penn supplement portion of the application.
3. How important is the legacy tie in the admission process?
ANSWER: Legacies undergo the same competitive review process as all other Penn applicants, and also receive a supplemental review before reaching the Admissions Committee. If the Committee finds an application compelling, the legacy status could represent an additional point of interest about the candidate. However, it is important to note that the legacy affiliation cannot serve to counterbalance weaknesses or shortcomings in an application.
4. Is there an advantage for legacies to apply Early Decision?
ANSWER: Legacies receive maximum consideration under the Early Decision Plan. This is because an Early Decision application reflects the student's heightened personal commitment to Penn, independent of any family influence. Penn's Early Decision Plan is binding. Legacies are encouraged to apply Early Decision if Penn is their first choice institution. (Read more about Early
Decision.)
5. Is the legacy tie considered at all during regular decision?
ANSWER: Yes. Family affiliation with Penn is noted in all undergraduate applications: Early Decision, Regular Decision, and Transfer. However, legacies receive maximum consideration when they apply under the Early Decision Plan.
6. What percentage of legacies are admitted?
ANSWER: This number varies from year to year, and there is no quota in place to determine how many legacies might be admitted. The overall admit rate for legacies for the Class of 2012 was 34%. Over 41% of the legacies that applied during Early Decision were accepted.
| Penn's Class of 2012 admit rates: |
| |
LEGACY |
OVERALL |
| Admitted Early Decision |
41.7% |
29.3% |
| Full-Cycle |
33.9% |
16.4% |
While legacies have been admitted at a slightly higher rate, it is important to note that in the last several years almost two-thirds of legacy applicants were not admitted to Penn.
